“See Captain Joe!” Frank exclaimed; “he scents mischief up there. We would better be on our way.”
“Someone must remain on the Rambler,” Clay declared, “and you, Frank, ought to be the one. He, this Señor Lewiso, is not after us, but he may make trouble for you.”
“What a name!” Case exclaimed. “I’ll wager that his name is just plain Lewis in the United States.”
“That is probably correct,” Clay agreed. “Now for it!”
Then the actions of the dog attracted their attention. He no longer held his dignified pose, but was running to and fro on the dock, looking alternately at the Rambler and the street beyond the dock, as if in doubt whether to chase up the street or swim to the boat. Presently he darted away up the street.
Believing that something serious was happening to Alex and Jule, Clay and Case now sprang into the boat and rowed ashore. There was then no need for them to advance up the street taken by Captain Joe.
An excited mob was rushing down the thoroughfare, and at the head of it, covering the ground like race-horses and dodging sticks and clubs as they shot ahead, were Alex and Jule.
The boys were not very far ahead of the crowd, but were gaining. Indeed, they would soon have been beyond the reach of the missiles thrown in their direction only for the fact that fresh recruits were continually swinging into the race from nearby doorways and taking front positions in the pursuit.
Captain Joe was running at the heels of his master, pausing now and then to check the pursuit by showing a dangerous set of teeth to the pursuers. At such times those in advance fell back sullenly, not caring to come to close quarters with the dog.
When the boys reached the dock they were only a few paces ahead of the front line of those who were giving chase. One sturdy fellow, far in advance, evidently a Spaniard, was even reaching out to seize Alex when he came to the boat. He might have succeeded in his attempt to prevent the lad getting into the craft only that the dog sprang at him and bore him back. As the two boys and the dog gained the boat the oncoming rabble stumbled over the prostrate man and half a dozen pitched headforemost into the river.